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Oldest Survivng World Finalists


BOBBATH

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Yes, I believe Split would beat Olle more times than he would lose to him.

I'd agree

 

Sometimes we can look back and ask 'if only he was more dedicated how good could he have been?'.We are possibly dealing with a couple who could fall into that category.Even Ronnie Moore could be as well.Olle is certainly a rider that it could be said never really reached his full potential,but then they were who they were.That is the life they chose and maybe Olle could have been much better than the records show,but i think you are right and he woud lose more often than not against Split

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Although he was past his best by the time I saw him at New Cross, Split was still a good heat leader, but there was a period of about three or four weeks when he must have been like the Split of old. He seemed to be in a different class - he beat Ove Fundin three times one night during this time - and it was like I did catch a glimpse of him at his best. Sadly, it didn't last long but it was a privilege to see him back to his best. On that form, I think he would definitely have beaten Olle Nygren, both at their best. The only thing I would say about Olle is that he probably maintained a higher standard for longer than Split. He was still a major force to be reckoned with in the late 60s.

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Then o great one who would you say on that list is #4- I reckon it would have to be Rune Sormander-what do the rest of you think. My favourite rider was of course Dick Bradley, but maybe he didn't stack up against these guys-although in terms of who was a great gentleman he would be right up there!!

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OK folks -it seems we all agree on the first three riders of the list in terms of who would beat others at the top of their careers(I almost posted carers!!) . After Ronnie, Split and Olle -I put Rune Sormander as the fourth best- no disagreement yet posted there-so wh would you put #5-I would put Dick Bradley-taking into account his World Final Appearances and that he was still a heat leader at 40 and indeed appeared in the 1965 BL(best season ever) and may have carried on if not for Clive Featherby!!

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OK folks -it seems we all agree on the first three riders of the list in terms of who would beat others at the top of their careers(I almost posted carers!!) . After Ronnie, Split and Olle -I put Rune Sormander as the fourth best- no disagreement yet posted there-so wh would you put #5-I would put Dick Bradley-taking into account his World Final Appearances and that he was still a heat leader at 40 and indeed appeared in the 1965 BL(best season ever) and may have carried on if not for Clive Featherby!!

I think there is a case for Per Olof Soderman ahead of Dick Bradley. Peo was ahead on World Final appearances by 4 to 2, with both also making a final as reserve. Peo also finished in the top six in 5 European Finals and scored 10 points in the 1963 World Team Cup Final, when he was part of Sweden's winning team.

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Brian Crutcher could match most during that era. I can recall in bygone days BBC Sportsview sent cameras to Wembley for a league meeting between Lions and Wimbledon specially for the race between Crutcher and Tommy Price for Wembley and Moore and Briggs for Wimbledon . Result 5-1 to Wembley

Edited by wealdstone
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I'm sure you're right about Brian Crutcher, Wealdstone, But, unfortunately, he's not on the list of oldest finalists - yet.

Sorry thought he was same age as Ronnie Moore and Ove Fundin

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Brian Crutcher could match most during that era. I can recall in bygone days BBC Sportsview sent cameras to Wembley for a league meeting between Lions and Wimbledon specially for the race between Crutcher and Tommy Price for Wembley and Moore and Briggs for Wimbledon . Result 5-1 to Wembley

Firstly I agree with the BL65-Soderman is ahead of Bradley for #5-re the Crutcher thing-there are a whole bunch of famous riders born around 1933 and 34 e.g. Briggo-but it looks like Ove is the first reserve on the Oldest World Finalists list-not absolutely sure-could Norbold & BL65 tell us who are the people just behind Ove in age??

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Yes, I think Arthur Payne is still with us.....Not sure about his birth date though, what I can find is, he was born 28.8.23 making him 94 now!

 

Not only is Arthur Payne still with us, he has just been interviewed by John Chaplin for our next issue of Classic Speedway magazine (issue 39)!

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That's great news about Arthur Payne- long may he be with us. Anyone know Briggo's dob-he must be about the same age as Ove

Norbold mentioned it just two posts before you asked, and it was mentioned again a few posts before that!

 

It was 30 December 1934...

 

Steve

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